Latest / Learn Swedish with Fexingo / Introducing Yourself in Swedish - Name Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hej Luna, welcome back to Learn Swedish with Fexingo. Luna: Hej Lucas! Oh, I love that we're starting with 'hej' now — feels so natural after all those episodes. Lucas: Exactly. And today, we're taking the next tiny step. We know how to say hello, how are you, yes, no, please, thank you... Luna: Right, from Episode 6 — ja, nej, snälla, tack. Lucas: Perfect. So now, let's learn how to introduce yourself. The most basic thing: telling someone your name. Luna: Oh, that's so good. I've been waiting for this. Lucas: Okay. In Swedish, 'my name is...' is 'Jag heter...' Luna: Jag heter... Lucas: Yes. 'Jag' means 'I', and 'heter' means 'am called' or 'is named'. So literally 'I am called...' Luna: Jag heter. Let me try: Jag heter. Lucas: Good. Now say it with a name. Jag heter Luna. Luna: Jag heter Luna. Lucas: Exactly. There it is. Luna: Okay, so if I meet someone at a coffee shop, I could say: Hej, jag heter Luna. Lucas: Yes. And then you'd want to ask their name. That's our second phrase: 'Vad heter du?' Luna: Vad heter du? Lucas: Right. 'Vad' means 'what', 'heter' is 'is called', 'du' is 'you'. So 'What are you called?' Luna: Vad heter du? Wait, the 'heter' is the same in both phrases? Lucas: Yeah. 'Heter' works for both 'I am called' and 'you are called'. It's the verb 'to be called'. Luna: Oh, that's cute. So it's jag heter, du heter. Lucas: Exactly. Now let's put them together. I'll start: Hej, jag heter Lucas. Luna: Hej Lucas, jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Ooh, almost. You already know my name — but in a real intro, you'd ask after I say mine. Let's role-play. I'm a new person. Hej. Luna: Hej. Jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Jag heter Lucas. Trevligt. Luna: Trevligt? What's that? Lucas: It means 'nice' — like 'nice to meet you'. But we'll save that for another day. For now, just jag heter and vad heter du. Luna: Got it. So: Jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Perfect. Let's practice slower. Say 'Jag heter...' with me: Jag heter. Luna: Jag heter. Lucas: And 'Vad heter du?': Vad heter du? Luna: Vad heter du? Lucas: Good. Now imagine we're at one of those cozy Stockholm cafés — the kind with cinnamon buns. Luna: Oh, I love that image. Lucas: You sit down, someone smiles. You say: Hej, jag heter Luna. Luna: Hej, jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Jag heter Erik. Trevligt. Luna: Trevligt. Wait, I said it! Okay, so I could add 'tack' at the end maybe? Lucas: Sure, 'tack' is always nice. But let's keep it tiny today. Just the two phrases. Luna: Right. Jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: You're nailing it. Let's do another tiny scene. This time, you're joining a Swedish book club online. Luna: Ooh, fun. Hej alla, jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Jag heter Anna. Välkommen. Luna: Välkommen means welcome, right? From earlier episodes? Lucas: Yes, exactly. See how it builds? Luna: Totally. Okay, I want to try one more. Pretend we're neighbors meeting in the hallway. Lucas: Hej, jag heter Lucas. Luna: Hej, jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: You already know — but in the scene, I'd say: Jag heter Lucas. Luna: Right. Jag heter Lucas. Trevligt. Lucas: There you go. Now, let's do a quick recap. What's 'my name is' in Swedish? Luna: Jag heter. Lucas: And how do you ask someone's name? Luna: Vad heter du? Lucas: Perfect. Say a full introduction for yourself. Luna: Hej, jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Excellent. And if I answer: Jag heter Lucas. Luna: Trevligt. Lucas: You're picking up extras — I love it. But remember, just these two phrases today. Practice them out loud. Luna: Jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Jag heter Luna. Vad heter du? Lucas: Yeah yeah yeah. That's the rhythm. Luna: This feels so useful. Like, next time I watch a Swedish show and someone introduces themselves, I'll actually catch it. Lucas: Absolutely. And that's the goal — tiny pieces that stick. Luna: So, what's the plan? Just keep saying these to myself? Lucas: For sure. Try introducing yourself to your mirror, your pet, a plant. Use the phrases until they feel automatic. Luna: Hej, I'm talking to you, fern. Jag heter Luna. Lucas: Exactly. And the fern might not answer, but you're practicing. Luna: Right. Okay, I'm gonna do that. Tack, Lucas. Lucas: Tack själv. And thank you for learning with us here at Fexingo. Remember, small steps every day. Luna: Yeah. So, till next time? Lucas: Exactly. Vi ses, Luna. Luna: Vi ses. And hejdå to everyone listening.